There’s only three months of summer. Make them count!

This will be my first summer with a child old enough to walk, talk and really appreciate the world around her. I’m hoping to take advantage of the warmer months by teaching her to enjoy being outside. I hope she will learn to appreciate nature and take care of the earth. Therefore, I thought I would generate an eco and family-friendly bucket list. We already have some trips to the beach planned, so I focused on activities that didn’t include water.

1. Feed some animals.

We’ll be frequenting the local petting zoo a bunch, so that my city-babe can come to appreciate all types of animals.

2. Go to a farm and pick some vegetables.

I think children should learn where their food comes from. Plus, a farm has tons of outdoor space perfect for letting a toddler burn all her energy running through.

3. Take my daughter on a bike ride.

By her first birthday, my daughter could hail a taxi, but she rarely gets a chance to go bike riding with me. Biking around the city is a great way to conserve fuel and something I want to encourage.

4. Grow a vegetable garden.

We’ve somehow managed to keep a pepper plant going in a planter in our kitchen. If we could add one vegetable to our little “garden” I will be extremely content.

5. Take a hike.

What better way to show a child all that mother earth has to offer than to spend a day in nature?

6. Go barefoot.

I hope to get my daughter, who won’t even wear sandals, to somehow walk barefoot in the grass, or on sand.

7. Have a picnic.

Toddlers love to place things in containers, so packing up the picnic basket will be a real treat for my daughter. I can also take advantage of my daughter’s proclivity toward sorting to have her help me recycle the remains of our picnic when we’re finished eating.

8. Go to a natural history museum.

Into everyone’s summer a little rain must fall, and a museum which has dinosaur bones and exhibits about our planet is a wonderful rainy-day activity.

9. Chasing fireflies.

Chasing butterflies may be the quintessential summer-time childhood activity. In my opinion fireflies are one of nature’s most beautiful miracles and they fill every child with a sense of wonder.

Lara Chassin is a lawyer and apprentice editor for elephant journal. When she is not lawyering or editing, she enjoys practicing yoga, bike riding, skiing, running, traveling and feeding her loved ones through cooking, baking or over-ordering at restaurants. Rest assured that her tendency to overindulge is a big reason for her enjoyment of athletic pursuits. She lives in the city but frequently escapes to the mountains or the beach.

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Thanks Shannon! That fireflies aren't in every community is among the (extremely) minor tragedies on this planet. If you're looking for a fun activity for children, you can make your own though! http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Fireflies.html.

Hmm, I think you have just given me an idea for my next blog post ;-).